If you've been to the Valley View library lately, you've noticed some improvements in both function and appearance. These changes come to us courtesy of one of our very own Cardinals. Now a Senior at Westlake High School, Laurie Prinz chose the Valley View library as the recipient of her many talents as she worked to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the equivalent of Boy Scouts' prestigious Eagle Award. Laurie drew on her artistic, literary, and engineering talents to design and construct a large number of signs to direct students to the books they want. With labeled areas, as well as shelves, students have already demonstrated an improvement in the ability to locate books that they want. Laurie thoughtfully included pictures in the non-fiction section labels, so that our pre-reading population can take advantage of her work. In addition to decorative and functional additions to the library, Laurie created an orientation video which reminded students of library procedures and etiquette as we started the school year. Thank you Laurie! Your legacy will be appreciated by Cardinals for years to come!

You may wonder why we all seem to be “going dotty” at Valley View. We’re going to be celebrating our creativity all week, starting with International Dot Day on Monday, Sept. 15, and ending with our first school wide assembly on Friday the 19th when everyone is encouraged to wear dots to school!

In addition to reading “The Dot”, by Peter Reynolds, classes are coming up with dot related activities tying together our entire curriculum. Art classes have already started and were recently seen busily painting their own dots with a personal touch. First grade has plans for a dot quilt. Dots will soon be found on personal favorite library books as students “make their mark” in the library. Watch for dots to pop up anywhere!

"The Dot more than anything celebrates the power of creative teaching,” Reynolds explains. “Despite the test-centric world we live in, creative teachers know how to find those aha moments — much the same way that my 7th grade math teacher Mr. Matson ‘connected the dots’ between math and art, which changed my life.” To honor that moment, Reynolds dedicated The Dot to Mr. Matson.

How does Reynolds recommend celebrating? “Spread the word… On International Dot Day, read The Dot, wear dots, eat dots, draw dots, frame dots, connect the dots, splurge on art supplies, try a new medium — a new instrument, write a poem, rearrange your furniture, reconnect the dots with an old friend, make something, or make something with a friend. Share your creativity with the world.”http://www.thedotclub.org/dotday/

Book Club started during fifth grade lunch today. Sixteen students had a poetry reading and looked at some bugs up close as they enjoyed the Blueboonnet Book of poems,Face Bugs, by J. Patrick Lewis. Passes are available for 5th graders to discuss Bluebonnet Books during lunchtime every Friday.

Lots of smiling 5th graders met in the library to sign up as volunteers. These awesome "early bird" Cardinals will SOAR in the library by staffing the checkout desk while the library is open before school. They will also read to younger students, help prepare for the day, and do numerous other tasks throughout the school year. Teams will rotate on a weekly basis.